By snoadmin
The Long Beach State athletic department plans to use a $2.38 million increase in annual revenue and a $2 million donation to help fund the rising cost of student athlete scholarships, and to renovate the Walter Pyramid locker rooms for the basketball and volleyball teams, athletic director Vic Cegles said Tuesday.
Cegles also said that the funds, which were generated from the Student Excellence Fee and a contribution from the Bickerstaff family, will be used to turn the old Frog’s gym into an athletic weight and conditioning area, and sports medicine center.
“These locker room renovations have been in the works for a long time, and will help us recruit, teach, and enhance the student athlete experience,” Cegles said. “Moving the strength and conditioning area and sports medicine center to the Pyramid will also allow us to expand the needed space to train over 350 young men and women who participate in 18 intercollegiate sports.”
Cegles continued: “Having the two areas adjoining in the Pyramid efficiently maximizes the relationship with player health and their effort to become bigger, stronger and faster.”
Cegles said the funds will also assist in meeting the rise in travel and equipment purchases, as well enhancing the staff in the sports medicine, strength and conditioning departments.
Meanwhile, he hopes resources will also be available on an annual basis for renovations to the soccer, track and field, and softball facilities.
Though no formal announcements have been made, Cegles said the athletic department is “seriously considering” adding a women’s beach volleyball team for the spring 2012 season, and is reaching out to other universities to participate in a league.
In addition, Cegles said that there will be minimal financial impact on the women’s budget, and that there are no additional scholarships or coaching salaries required.
“Apparel and equipment agreements will cover those hard costs,” Cegles said. “After two seasons, the NCAA will then provide an annual stipend of approximately $27,000, and most importantly, the added opportunities for women will help us meet gender equity and Cal Now requirements.”
The vision for renovating Blair Field remains in the works, too, with Cegles hopeful that funding from a few name donors will enable the school to create a new practice infield, batting tunnels, locker room/office/hall of fame building, stadium club, press box and an entranceway.
“The cost is in the millions,” Cegles said. “The timetable on construction and renovation will be determined by Long Beach State athletics’ ability to generate the needed resources.”
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